Victorian Fruit in London. 151 



The pears ])er Oinrah were in large cases, some in good condition 

 and others wasty. Vicar of Winkfield, in good condition, sohl from 

 10s. to 13s. per case, and Winter Nelis up to 19s. A few half-cases of 

 grapes in this steamer were not in good condition generally, ;ind wen' 

 .sold for 8s. ()d. per case. 



The "India" Consignment- 



This steamer carried 4,997 cases of Victorian aj)ples and pears, luid 

 about 12,500 cases from Tasmania. The Victorian consignment, 

 inspected during discharge, was in good condition. The pears con- 

 sisting of 251 cases were stowed in a small sepai'ate cliainl)er and 

 carried at a temperature of about o8 degrees, the a]i])les at tibout 42 

 degrees. The pears were all packed in the ordinary apple case, but 

 the temperature maintained, which I have in ])revious rejjorts 

 recommended for this fruit, ])roves its suitability although this 

 description of package is used. In my last report, 1 referred to the 

 fact that some of the apples were affected with bitter pit, which 

 materially affected their value when sold. Some of the India 

 consignment was affected in the same way, Ribston Pippins particularly. 

 Other apples which seem to be subject to this disease ai'e Bismarcks 

 and Cleopatras, and although otherwise sound and well-grown, the 

 appearance of this on the fruit detracted from its value when sold. 

 Com]ilaints are also made that soiiie growers do not fjuite fill their 

 cases with fruit, and place rather much paper and wood shavings in as 

 packing, and this is soon recognised by purchasers, who reduce their 

 offers accordingly when buying. The Victorian packing and grading 

 is generally spoken of favourably by those engaged in the trade, so 

 enabling better prices to be realised than for Tasmaninn. 



At the sales of India consignment, ct)nsequent on the hjaster holidays 

 commencing this week, there was an active demand, and g(jod prices, 

 for all the finest description of dessert apples ; but with a large quantity 

 of ordinary class fruit from Tasmania, for apples not of first grade, 

 values realised were only moderate. 



The prices realised for Victorian were : — 



Al'PLKS. 



■ s. d. s. d. 



Cleopatra . . . . 10 to 1.5 



Jonathan 

 Munro's Favorite 

 Rome Beauty 

 Cox's Orange Pippin . . 

 Ribston Pippin 

 Five Crown . . 

 Rymer 

 Bismarck 

 King of Pippins .. .. 10 ,, 12 



Peaks. 



Winter Nelis.. .. .. 12 to 22 



Vicar of Winkfield .. .. 10 ., 13 



